714 
Poultry at the Noricich Shoiv. 
judging as conducted at present. The selection of Judges was 
an admirable one, and proved to be a happy unification of the 
farmer and fancier elements. Mr. O. E. Cresswell is a breeder 
of considerable experience ; jNIr. D. Bragg, a tenant farmer 
who has found his poultry a valuable part of his farm stock, 
and who, both by his successes in the production of market 
poultry, chiefly ducks and geese, and in the Show-pen, has 
proved that he understands the breeding of poultry most practi- 
cally. The remaining Judge, Mr. Butler Smith, is also a 
farmer, the son of a gentleman who, as an exhibitor and a 
Judge at Royal Shows, is too well known to need more than a 
mention. Mr. Butler Smith has been a most successful breeder 
of Dorkings, in one variety of which he has won at nearly all 
the chief Shows in the kingdom. Considering, therefore, the 
object which the Royal Agricultural Society has had in recom- 
mencing the Poultry Classes at its Annual Show, I think that a 
better selection of Judges could not have been made. 
The Classes at the Royal Show embrace almost all the more 
useful breeds. Such as are to be regarded as purely orna- 
mental, and which cannot be deemed likely to be of service to 
the farmer or cottager, are omitted from the list. This is an 
understandable policy, but it is one which needs careful 
application, for if only useful breeds are admitted to the Poultry 
section of the Show, a stamp will be placed upon certain 
breeds which must not be lightly given or withheld. 
It is to be regretted that the Show in point of numbers was a 
decided falling off from that at Preston last year. This I 
believe was due to three causes. First, the breeding season of 
1S86 was a very backward one, and consequently the young 
classes would in any case have been a failure. But, secondly, 
these young chicken classes are, in my judgment, a mistake, as 
July is far too early for the exhibition of chickens, and breeders 
do not care to have their valuable youngsters confined for the 
best part of a week. But the third great objection on the part 
of breeders is to the showing of three birds in one pen. The 
injury done to the fowls, as shown in several instances Tjoth at 
Preston and Norwich, is irreparable, and even the liberal prizes 
offered will not be recompense for the harm done to the fowls. 
The classes at the Show may be roughly divided into four 
sections, namely, (1) generally useful fowls, embracing Brahmas, 
Cochins, Langshans, Houdans, Plymouth Rocks, and Scotch 
Greys ; (2) laying breeds, under which are included Andalu- 
sians, Minorcas, Leghorns, and Hamburghs ; (3) the table 
varieties — Dorkings, Creveca-urs, and Game ; and (4) Water- 
fowl, with Turkeys, which comprise the last section. The total 
number of entries in the whole Show was 191, or an aggregate 
